Towards equitable cancer outcomes for rural and remote communities: reflections, lessons and recommendations

Abstract

Summary -- People living in rural and remote areas continue to face significant inequities in cancer outcomes compared to their metropolitan counterparts. Despite advances in cancer control, these disparities persist across the cancer trajectory. This personal view consolidates findings from our Equitable Cancer Outcomes for Rural and Remote Communities series, highlighting survival disadvantages, challenges in measuring and reporting rurality, barriers to implementing evidence-based interventions, and shortcomings in historical policy. We argue for place-based, system-level reform that genuinely partners with rural communities, leverages local strengths, and embeds rural voices in research, policy, and service delivery. Key recommendations include adopting a formal partnership position statement to guide collaboration across sectors, strengthening rural data infrastructure, harmonising rural-urban classifications, tailoring implementation strategies, and prioritising geographical equity within cancer policy. Achieving meaningful progress requires coordinated cross-sector action and sustained investment in rural capacity. Equitable cancer outcomes will only be achieved by recognising and addressing the responsibility to deliver best practice care for all people affected by cancer, regardless of where they live.